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Despite loss of 4 premiers, Wynne says more women will rise in politics

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne responds during question period in the Ontario Legislature n Toronto on Tuesday April 8, 2014. (Frank Gunn / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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The Canadian Press
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2014 4:43PM EDT

TORONTO -- Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she believes more women will rise to leadership roles in Canadian politics, despite the loss of a fourth female premier.

Quebec's Pauline Marois suffered a crushing defeat in Monday's provincial election, exiling the Parti Quebecois to the opposition benches and leaving her without a seat.

But it also reduced female representation at the premier's table down to two from an all-time high of six last summer.

Wynne and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark are the only ones who are left standing.

Wynne says it may have been a historical coincidence that so many women occupied leadership positions at the same time.

But she says she hopes that's not the case and more women will have those important jobs in the future.

"We can't dictate that," she said Tuesday.

"It's something that will happen ... and we will have more women in these roles if we encourage women to get into politics in the first place."

Wynne may suffer the same fate as Marois if her governing Liberals are defeated in the next election, which could be triggered this spring if their budget doesn't win the support of at least one of the opposition parties.

Newfoundland's Kathy Dunderdale, Alberta's Alison Redford and Nunavut's Eva Aariak have all left their posts.

Aariak lost her seat last October after saying she wouldn't seek another term as premier.

Dunderdale resigned in January amid questions about her leadership and sliding approval ratings. A scandal over lavish expenses and perks for herself and her inner circle preceded Redford's resignation on March 19.